YMCA OF THE USA Hiring For Director, Public Relations & Reputation at Chicago, IL, United States , United States Full Time

Job Description

GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director, Public Relations & Reputation leads strategic integrated public relations plans that elevate/increase perception of the YMCA brand on a national and local level. The Director also leads its issues management/crisis communications efforts to preserve its reputation as a leading nonprofit organization.
The Director is responsible for assessing, monitoring and strategizing around organizational risks and advising local YMCAs on reputation management issues/best practices to mitigate individualized risk. In addition, the Director advises leaders of Y-USA and the Movement around Thought Leadership opportunities.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field is required
• Minimum 7 years of experience driving public relations/reputation management efforts for a matrix organization is required
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing public relations/reputation management efforts within a nonprofit/agency/similar environment working with national nonprofit client(s) is required; additional experience as a reporter considered a plus
• Adept across the entire scope of Strategic Integrated Communications (SIC), including internal/external communications, executive communications, thought leadership, public relations, issues management, etc. is required
• Experience in public relations/reputation management within a decentralized organization is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in developing results-driven public relations campaigns and media pitches/placements is required
• Demonstrated ability to influence, set direction for and guide reputation management practices is required
• Experience in developing Thought Leadership platform and identifying/executing opportunities is required
• Adept at developing and conducting message/media training is required
• Adept at developing strong relationships with national media. Existing relationships with reporters who cover nonprofits is a plus
• Experience leading and working with cross-functional and intra-departmental teams is required
• Experience managing multiple projects concurrently and meeting goals and deadlines is required
• Excellent strategic and conceptual thinking, problem solving, and decision-making skills are required
• Excellent collaboration, negotiation and facilitation skills are required
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills are required
• Excellent project management and presentation skills are required
• Excellent organizational and planning skills are required
• Supervisory experience is required; agency management experience is required
• Ability to travel as needed is required
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism is required
• Commitment to the YMCA character development values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility is required

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Values. Demonstrates in word and action the Y’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility and a commitment to the Y’s mission, in all matters at all times.
• Inclusion. Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence.
• Relationships. Builds authentic relationships in the service of enhancing individual and team performance to support the Y’s work.
• Communication. Listens and expresses self effectively and in a manner that reflects a true understanding of the needs of the audience.
• Developing Others. Recognizes and acts on the need to continually develop others’ capabilities to attain the highest level of performance possible.
• Project Management. Supports goal attainment by prioritizing activities, assigning responsibilities in accordance with capabilities, monitoring progress, and evaluating impact.
• Decision Making. Integrates logic, intuition and sound judgment to analyze information to identify greatest opportunities, make sound decisions, and solve problems.
• Change Capacity. Leads self and others through change by navigating ambiguity appropriately and adapting well to new situations, obstacles, and opportunities.
• Emotional Maturity. Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills.
• Quality Results. Demonstrates and fosters a strong commitment to achieving goals in a manner that provides quality experiences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and directs the implementations of strategic public relations plans and campaigns
• Executes plans to ensure increased brand perception across target audiences and the public at-large
• Develops campaign media pitch/placement strategies across target media outlets
• Tracks, evaluates and reports on ad equivalency/success measurements on public relations campaigns
• Conducts message/media training with key leaders/team members at Y-USA and local YMCAs
• Collaborates with Y-USA’s leadership to (1) proactively identify, assess and monitor known and perceived risks; (2) proactively and reactively mitigate issues, crises or reputational risks to the YMCA brand, Y-USA or local YMCAs; and (3) maintain Y-USA’s crisis communications plan and activate the plan as needed
• Works alongside the VP, Communications & Brand Reputation to ensure all audiences hear Y-USA speaking in a clear, unified voice and perceive Y-USA actions as the most ethical response to realized or potential issues that impact reputation
• Develops key crisis/issues management strategies and messages to enable Y-USA to transparently communicate from a position of control and strength – to Y-USA staff, the Movement, the media and the public
• Serves as advisor to local YMCAs seeking internal or external communications counsel for reputation/issues management situations
• Creates and communicates opportunities and tools/resources for local YMCAs to activate public relations plans and campaigns in their local markets
• Ensures national and local employees have the resources, information and support needed to maintain the YMCA’s reputation
• Supervises direct report(s) in implementing public relations plans and campaigns, and supports their professional development
• Manages assigned agency and vendor relationships
• Performs other duties as assigned

EFFECT ON END RESULTS/ STRATEGIC IMPACT
This position gives voice and visibility to the national office vision, strategies, perspectives, initiatives and resources required to help Y-USA and the Movement advance our mission and elevate our brand.